Evaristo Cruz Sánchez, known as “El Vaquero”, identified as one of the main operators of the Gulf Cartel, pleaded guilty in a US court. During the March 31 hearing, the defendant formalized his guilty plea as part of a deal with US authorities, which could reduce his sentence in exchange for cooperation or admission of responsibility. Cruz Sánchez was indicted by the US Department of Justice on multiple charges related to drug trafficking, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, in operations that took place between 2015 and 2021. What was “El Vaquero’s” role in the Gulf Cartel? Investigations placed him as second-in-command within his organization, second only to José Alfredo Cárdenas Martínez, “El Contador”. His role was strategic: he coordinated the accumulation, storage, and transportation of large volumes of narcotics into US territory. Additionally, he supervised key routes on the northern border, particularly in areas near Texas, where the safeguarding and distribution of drugs to other parts of the country were also documented. From a priority target to custody in the US “El Vaquero” was arrested in April 2021 in Nuevo León during a joint operation by the Army and the National Guard, after having been considered a priority target by Mexican authorities since 2019, even with an active reward for information leading to his capture. Last year, he was sent to the US as part of a massive extradition of drug traffickers. What’s next for Evaristo Cruz, El Vaquero? After pleading guilty, Cruz Sánchez faces a possible sentence of up to a decade in prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for the upcoming July 7.
